Hamilton Non-Motorized Transportation Plan ready for review

An initial draft of the proposed Hamilton Non-Motorized Transportation Plan is now available for public review and comment. The company hired by the city to help facilitate the design of the plan, Alta Planning + Design of Bozeman, has posted the draft recommendations on the project website (www.walkbikehamilton.com) for public review and comment. The draft recommendations are provided in an easy-to-follow Google maps based format. Website visitors can also fill out a short survey below the map to provide feedback on the recommendations and help prioritize the projects in the final document.

Work began on the project last April 26, when a public workshop was held where more than 35 Hamilton residents provided input on potential improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The plan is relying heavily on input and ideas from Hamilton residents. According to project coordinators, the project has been, from the beginning, a collaborative effort between the City of Hamilton and its citizens aimed at creating a blueprint for the future of Hamilton’s bicycle and pedestrian network and to make Hamilton a safe, enjoyable place to walk, run, and ride. The City of Hamilton hopes all residents will take the time to review the recommendations and provide feedback. The feedback survey will be open for one month (closing July 1).

Website visitors may also provide their email address to be notified when new material is posted.

The plan addresses potential improvements to both pedestrian and bicycle routes throughout the city.

The pedestrian proposals include a map of existing sidewalks, natural surface trails, and paved trails within the city and also proposed future sidewalk and shared use trails. Residents are asked to prioritize nine selected sidewalk improvements in order of importance including along New York Avenue, Pine Street, Cherry Street, Ravalli Street, Desta Street, Marcus Street, Daly Avenue, Golf Course Road and Skeels Avenue.

Proposed bike lanes, shared use trails, bicycle boulevards, bike routes, and paved shoulders are also mapped out. Residents are asked to rank proposed bike lane improvements and rank the general importance they give to bike boulevard improvements from not important to very important.

A bike boulevard is an “enhanced” bike route with wayfinding signage and shared lane markings. It also involves intersection treatments and follows streets with low volume traffic and low speeds.

Sometime in July an ‘Administrative Draft’ of the Hamilton Non-Motorized Transportation Plan will be posted for final comment in advance of adoption by the City Council.